Next
5th Sunday of Easter Year A - 18/5/2014 - Gospel: Jn 14:1-12
Rooms
The conversation between Jesus and His apostles had made several twists and turns and that made all of the apostles worried and confused. It seems to me that the more Jesus explained to them the more they misunderstood Him simply because what Jesus said was fundamental but far-reaching. Jesus first asked them to be calmed, not let their hearts in troubles. He then asked them to place their trust in God and trust in Him and then slowly revealed what would happen the next day. The apostles were struggling to make sense of what Jesus did at the Last Supper, the washing of the feet and the prediction that one of them would betray Him and again all of them would deny association with Him. They were shocked and couldn't understand the message. Jesus then predicted the terrible news of His own crucifixion and death and resurrection. The twelve probably wouldn't believe what they heard. The conversation created further confusion because this was the first time Jesus went away without them. They probable wondered what they had done wrong. The apostles asked for clarification but they could not understand.

Thomas asked: Lord, we don't know where you are going so how can we know the way.

Phillip asked: Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.


The confusion created a dark cloud in their hearts. It blurred their vision about the bright future of following Jesus. Everything seemed to collapse and dreams were shattered as they faced the brick wall. Knowing their sadness and worries Jesus told them to place their trust in God and in Him. His reason for leaving them behind was that He was going ahead to prepare a place for them and after He has prepared He would come back to take them with Him so where He is they will be there also. There is no need to lose trust when they are going to be faced the reality of His predictions. They need to know that after His physical death, the Crucifixion there is a lot more that will happen and that is the resurrection and ascension. The resurrection is the initial step of the new life but not the last. It is followed by the ascension and union with God the Father.

We all wonder what sort of life we will live when completed our earthly journey. Jesus gave the answer: There are many rooms in my Father house 14, 2. We envisage what the next life would be like. The love of God transforms all; that we are lonely and alone no more but we live the communal living, full of God's love and we will daily see God face to face. When the earthly life is ended we return to God and live in God's house and are united with our loves ones forever.

The concept of the new life may be new to some but certainly not new for the ancient Hebrews whose belief was that the world began with God and is constantly heading toward God and that is its final goal. It is the ultimate destiny of humanity. It is the end of the world or the end time and it involves:  death and judgement and heaven and hell.

Previous